Pages

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Just Skirting Around

"Every now and then your wardrobe needs an injection of something, new, trendy and fun. That was the thought when we spied the pencil skirts shown in the large graphic prints and florals in the June 2009 issue of Lucky Magazine. These skirts provide a great way to update a classic...so with that photo spread and a little conversation...we were ready to create our own versions. Following are our individual interpretations of an updated yet classic pencil skirt."

Inspiration:A feature in Lucky Magazine highlighting the pencil skirt done in a large scale floral print or a graphic print.

The Challenge:Create a pencil skirt works on our own body and use a bold print. Participants are Carolyn, Cidell, LindsayT, and Marji. (Marji proposed the challenge after reading Carolyn's post of May 9 and asked a few fellow sewists she emails and talks to regularly if they wanted to participate.)

The skirt:

Pattern used:TNT Skirt Pattern

Fabric/Fabric source:100% Rayon Print from

Construction details:I used a graphic print for my version of the skirt. It is a bold and daring print that I thought it best emulated the skirts shown in Lucky. The construction was fairly straightforward. I did add a lining to my skirt but I chose a lime green piece that I only had a remnant of...which necessitated having to add a piece of 3" lace trim to the hem of the lining pieces.

Even then it was shorter than I normally like for a lining...however, it does work...so I went with it.

And even though I've been on an invisible zipper application craze, I ended up using a regular centered zipper application in this skirt. Partially because I had no 9" invisible zippers on hand and partially because the regular zipper matched the skirt and lining soooooo well...that color coordination trumped new technique! So into the skirt it went! *LOL*

This was a fun exercise to participate in andI've ended up with a very cute, very trendy skirt that works really well with the soft lime green twinset I already own. I've had some great conversations with friends and I've learned a new fitting technique from Marji - "The Fitting Goddess!" Now I'm ready for another Fashion Friday!

Being short and rather stumpy, I tend to shy away from large scale anything, but this works. Maybe because it's at the bottom and there is something of a plain color between the skirt and the rest of the body - I'm not sure. But it works and I LOVE your print. Very graphic - but definitely not swirly or printy. Great stuff, Carolyn!

THAT looks awesome on you. Great colors, great fit, great combo with the separates. Like Gigi said, stunning. You should make more outfits like that! Very flattering. :) I just might have to make a similar outfit for myself. Love lime green and blues.

What a joy it is to read your blog! As usual, you look great! Love the idea of adding lace to your lining, like you I do so as well after reading about an Australian Stitches magazines.......a very, ver nice detail!

So you're the one that bought that fabric! Had my eye on it for such a long time that when I was ready to purchase, it was gone! Ah well, all for a good cause - the skirt looks fantastic! (And I did manage to find the very same fabric locally, so no hard feelings ;))

This was a terrific post--thank you so much. I had such a good time clicking on the other skirt-makers' posts and reading them. I know just what I'm going to make my pencil skirt out of--a tigerish print linen-cotton that I purchased at a quilt show in January. You've given me courage, but since we are HOT here in the summer, I'm skipping the lining, I think.

Do straight skirts qualify? I have a really comfortable Loes Hinse design (the Brussels Skirt) which has become a uniform.